Page 52 of Your Kiss Is On My List

“I…”

“Never mind,” he says.

“I can’t stay out, Trey. I have to finish my project and get it to Dooley first thing in the morning.”

“It’s just as well,” he says. “The team’s traveling to Boston for the first round of the tournament first thing in the morning. The Frozen Four’s next week—if we win—in Minnesota...”

“Looks like between my competition and your hockey, we have a lot at stake in the next week.” He nods.

“We do.”

“Like you’ve always said, to win, to get what you want, you need to focus.” I feel frogs jumping around in my gut as I speak, though you’d never know it because I sound cool and reasonable.

“You’re what I want, Dani. Don’t forget that.”

“I’m not forgetting that.” I lean into him and sigh, his words easing my jumpy gut. “But this week our focus needs to be on our professional ambitions. It’s the right thing to do.” He nods.

“So what are you saying? We take a vacation from each other for a week? Because I was looking forward to having you in my bed.” He tugs on my hair and on my heart and I nearly swoon with desire. Actually swoon.

“I wish, but I’ll need to spend my nights catching up on all my other classes that I’ve ignored getting this project finished. And you—”

“Me? What?” he brushes his lips across mine and he almost has me, but I’m not letting another lapse in judgment, another crazy mistake like we made in New York City happen again between us.

“You need to save your energy—all that Big D energy—for hockey.” His mouth twitches in a near smile.

“Big D energy? Do you even know what that is? Because I’m pretty sure I won’t need it on the ice.”

“Your big dick sucks a lot of energy from the rest of your body and you need to save it.”

“You’re starting to sound like my coach,” he says and I huff.

“Don’t start comparing me to him. But I do agree with him on this.”

“As long as you’ll be there for the Frozen Four. I’ll let you have a vacation from my Big D and all its energy. I’ll be saving it up for you.”

“I’ll be there—you know I will.” Guilt squeezes at me because I missed his game tonight, but I let it pass. I’m on my way to being that independent women, mom, on my own terms, with a guy at my side.

* * *

The next week is a blur until I get a call from Dooley on Thursday night.

“You made it to the finals, hot shot. You’re in for the award night in New York this weekend.”

“I’m in? Are you fracking with me? Really?” Adrenaline rises with my voice and I jump up and down in my room screeching so loud, Heather and Emily come by.

“I wouldn’t fuck about a thing like this. It’s a quick turn-around—so get ready.”

Quick turn-around? Then the rest of his words sink in. new York—this weekend.

“The awards are Sunday night. They like to make this like the Oscars or some shit, but they do it quick and dirty and have to take the venue when they get it. It’s not like the NFTPA is the Academy.”

“Shoot,” I say out loud and glance at Heather and Emily’s questioning faces and I calm my nerves, taking a deep breath. This is a good thing. Bad timing isn’t going to defeat me and Trey. “Thanks for the good news, Dooley/”

“What’s the good news?” Emily says, fresh off her recent big win and all the attending glory.

“I made the cut for the finals in the NFTPA competition.” Heather squeals, jumps up and down and then wraps me in a hug. Emily piles on and it feels good to celebrate, to push the trepidation to the back of my mind, to lock it away for the moment. I’ll deal with it later, but not now.

We no sooner end our hug when my phone buzzes letting me know I have another call.